I Have a Dream

STUDY GUIDE I Have a Dream

Photograph of Leaders at the Head of the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., 8/28/1963 I Have a Dream National Archives and Records Administration, Identifier: The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Luther 542002 King, Jr. by Bruce Miller

Audience: 3rd - 12th grade students Virginia Standards of Learning:

History and Social Sciences: 3.10a, 3.11a, 3.11b, 3.11d, 3.12, VS.1c, USII.3b, USII.3c, USII.4c, USII.9a, CE.4a, CE.4b, CE.4c, CE.4d, CE.4e, CE.4f, CE.4g, VUS.7d, VUS.14b, GOVT.17a, GOVT.17b, GOVT.17c, GOVT.17d, GOVT.17e

Language Arts: 3.1,3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 8.3, 8.5, 8.6, 9.3, 9.5, 10.6, 11.6, 12.6.

Additional Resources:

The King Center http://www.thekingcenter.org/ Virginia Repertory Theatre is proud to present I Have a The Library of Congress: America’s Dream: The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Story - Meet Amazing Americans: Martin Luther King, Jr. This compelling dramatization of the life and times of one http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/ of the most influential and charismatic leaders of the king/aa_king_subj.html “American Century” and the Civil Rights movement will Teaching American History: Text of inspire your students as they experience this great leader’s Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” struggle and his dream of lifting “our nation from the Speech, 1963 quicksand of racial injustice http://teachingamericanhistory.org/ to the solid rock of library/document/i-have-a-dream- brotherhood.” The speech/ play traces Dr. King’s Know Your Genre: Biography National Geographic Kids: Martin life from his humble A biography is an account of Luther King, Jr. beginnings in Atlanta, someone’s life written by someone http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ else. explore/history/martin-luther-king-jr/ Georgia through his extraordinary Sometimes biographies are called National Park Service: Martin Luther evolution into one a “life story,” “life history,” or “memoir.” King, Jr. National Historic Site th http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm of the 20 century’s foremost figures. Nobelprize.org (Biography of Dr. King) http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_ 1 prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio. ©2015 Virginia Repertory Theatre, VirginiaRep.org html Analyzing Primary Sources: The Text of “I Have a Dream”

A primary source is a document or object written or created during the time under study. Primary sources offer an inside view from the context of a particular time in history. Primary sources can be documents such as diaries, speeches, letters, or interviews. They can be photographs, or music. They can also be artifacts such as pottery, clothing, or paintings.

During the August 28, 1963 March on Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that became known as the “I Have a Dream” speech. Studying the text of the speech, a primary source document, provides us insight into the goals of the marchers, the emotions of that day, and into the social climate that precipitated Dr. King’s ideas as expressed in the speech. Excerpt from “I Have a Dream”

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at the ta- Leaders of the march posing in front of the statue of ble of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of 08/28/1963. National Archives and Records Administration. injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following: a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of 1. Dr. King says that his dream “is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.” What is the “Ameri- their skin but by the content of their character. can dream,” and what do you think Dr. King means by this statement?

2. Dr. King uses Mississippi as an example of “a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering Extension - Primary Sources Pinned with the heat of oppression....” What injustices and oppression were occurring in Mississippi (and other Take the virtual History Pin tour entitled “The places) at this time in history? March on Washington” to see powerful images from the march pinned to a map and displayed upon 3. In your opinion, has Dr. King’s dream come true? the backdrop of those historic places today. Why or why not? Access the tour. (https://www.historypin. 4. Read Dr. King’s full speech at http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/i-have-a- org/attach/uid23019/tours/view/540/title/ dream-speech/. What do you think he means when The%2520March%2520on%2520Washington/) he says, in paragraph 7, “We cannot walk alone.”?

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King and his followers used several methods to bring about social change, including those found below. The underpinnings of all these methods was a philosophy of nonviolence. Draw lines to match each method below with its definition. Then using social studies resources and the internet, find an example of each nonviolent method, and record it. This can be done individually, in small groups, or as a whole class.

civil disobedience boycott demonstration negotiation sit-in

Process of The act Tactic in which Withdrawal of Gatherings and discussing, of openly protesters support from protest activities compromising, disobeying an sit down at a company, organized to and bargaining unjust law, and the site of an government build support for in good faith accepting the injustice and or institution peace, justice or to secure a consequences, refuse to move committing social reform. resolution to a to protest an for a specified an injustice, conflict. injustice. period of time such as racial or until goals are discrimination. achieved.

Example: Example: Example: Example: Example: ______

Extension: Mahatma Gandhi served as an inspiration to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a pioneer of resistance through mass nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi became one of the major political and spiritual leaders of his time. Dr. King said “Gandhi was the guiding light of our technique for nonviolent social change.” Research three ways that Gandhi enacted social change in India.

The following events were pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement in America. Use research tools to put them in order on the timeline below:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassinated Integration of the US Military Brown vs. Board of Education Birmingham Church Bombing Voting Rights Act Era of Massive Resistance Montgomery Bus Boycott Civil Rights Act “I Have a Dream” Speech March on Washington

1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970

Martin Luther King, Jr. was influenced by the teachings of several other prominent men. Read the quotes below, and match the quote with the appropriate name.

“Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around.” Frederick Douglass “You are not judged by the height you have risen,

W.E.B. DuBois but from the depth you have climbed.”

“There is in this world no such force as the force of a Martin Luther King, Jr. person determined to rise.”

“When it (violence) appears to do good, the good is Mahatma Gandhi only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”

“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high Henry David Thoreau plane of dignity and discipline.”

Did you know? The name on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth certificate is Michael Luther King. Martin’s father wanted to name his son after himself, but Martin’s father went by the nickname of “Mike” (even though his name was Martin). So Martin Luther King, Jr. ended up with “Michael” on his birth certificate by mistake! It was later changed to Martin.

Virginia Repertory Theatre 114 W. Broad St. Richmond, Virginia 23220 Many people with different skills and talents work together to make a production such as I Have a Dream come to life. virginiarep.org Can you match these theater jobs with their descriptions? (804) 282-2620 [email protected] a person who plays a role or set designer character in stage plays, motion Virginia Rep Presents... pictures, television broadcasts, etc. I Have a Dream by Bruce Miller a person who creates the look of each character by designing playwright clothes and accessories the actors Virginia Repertory Theatre will wear in performance. Bruce C. Miller, Artistic Director Phil Whiteway, Managing Director this person’s job is to pull together all the pieces and parts of a play This study guide and the text contained stage manager – the script, actors, set, costumes, therein are the property of Virginia lighting and sound, and music to Repertory Theatre. Photocopying create a production. of the study guide is permitted. Any other use of the contents must be this job focuses on using light to accompanied by the phrase, “Text used create effects that match the with permission from Virginia Repertory actor mood of various scenes in a Theatre, Richmond, VA.” performance. © Virginia Repertory Theatre, 2015 this person is a writer of scripts for plays. The script tells a story through costume designer Theater Etiquette the actions and words of the characters. Clap, but know when to do so. You should clap after a play, act, or song, or right before intermission. If this person creates the physical surroundings of a play, including you loved the show, you can give a lighting designer “standing ovation” at the end. That’s any scenery, furniture, or props when you stand up while applauding. used throughout the play.

It’s quiet time (sort of). If the play makes you laugh or cry, this person helps the director that is fine, but you can chat with your and helps organize the actors, friends afterwards. Be respectful and director designers, stage crew, and quiet so the actors can focus on their technicians throughout the roles. Being quiet allows the rest of the production of a play. audience to concentrate on the play.